Filling machine



Feb. 6, 1951 w, KRUEGER 2,540,741

FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'Il3 :EI F'II3 5 Patented Feb. 6, 1951 FILLING MACHINE Frank W. Krueger, Saratoga, Calii'., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical (lorporatiomja corporation of Delaware Application February 12, 1948, Serial No. 8,125

This invention relates to filling machines and more particularly to vacuum type filling machines for filling containers at high speed.

The machine of the present invention is especially adapted for filling containers with liquids,

viscid substances, and pasty or semi-plastic materials.

It is one object of this invention to provide a filling machine which is simple in construction and highly efiicient in use.

Another object is to provide a machine by which accuracy or filling may be attained irrespective of the speed at which the filling operation is performed.

Another object is to provide a filling machine having constantly driven filling valves operable in timed relation with a can conveyor and-elevator for filling cans in a minimum of time.

Another object is to provide a'filling machine having flexible can supporting arms for presenting a can to the filling valve of the machine.

Another object is to provide a filling machine with a filling valve which is operable contingent upon the presentation of a container thereto.

Another object is to provide a filling machine having a filling valve which operates to refill itself simultaneous with the discharge of a previously received quantity of substance therefrom.

Another object is to provide a filling valve of the plunger type for accurately measuring the quantity of substance to be filled into a container and for effecting a complete discharge of such measured quantity of the substance into a container.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a filling machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken along line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail section through the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 and taken along line 4-4 thereof.

Fig. 5 is a section through a portion of the filling valve shown in Figs. 1 and 4, with certain parts thereof shown in a diiierent position.

Fig. 6 is a detail of a control mechanism, partly in section, taken along line 6--6 in Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a section through Fig. 6 taken along line 'l-'l thereof, certain parts being shown in a different position.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the filling valve 13 Claims. (01. 226-116) 2 of Figs. 3, 4, and 5 with parts thereof broken away for purposes of illustration.

Fig. ,9 is a. diagram illustrating the various phases of the operation of the filling machine.

The filling machine of the present invention (Fig. 1) generally comprises a base I supporting an arbor 2 upon which a turret 3 is mounted for V rotation. The turret 3 carries a plurality of lifts 6 and a corresponding plurality of filling valves 1, the latter of which are supplied with the product to be fed into containers. The valves I are each drivingly coupled to an epicyclic train ll operatively associated with the turret 3 and the latter is driven by a gear 13 which meshes with a pinion gear l4 secured to a drive shaft I5. The shaft I5 is driven by any suitable power transmitting mechanism, not shown, so that the turret 3 and its associated parts rotate about the arbor 2. The lifts 6 are each provided with a can table l6 adapted to receive a can from a feed mechanism (not shown) when the lift is in its lowermost position, the lift subsequently effecting elevation of the can into sealing engagement with the filling valve 1 associated therewith for the reception ofa charge of the product to be fed. After receiving a charge of the product, the cans are lowered one after another by the lifts 6 and the cans are then discharged from the filling machine in a manner well known in the art.

The base I of the machine (Fig. 1) consists of a pedestal 20 which may be provided with legs or the like, not shown, for supporting the pedestal upon a floor or bench. The pedestal includes a disc portion 2| provided with a central sleeve 22 into which the reduced lower end of the arbor 2 fits to secure the arbor in an erect position above the pedestal.

The arbor 2 is provided with a shoulder 23 which rests upon the upper surface 24 of the sleeve 22 and a thrust bearing 25 fits over the enlarged portion 26 of the arbor so as to rest upon the surface 24 of the sleeve 22.

The turret 3 is so constructed as to provide two main parts, namely, a spindle portion 28 which rests upon the thrust bearing 25 and a carriage portion 29 which is adjustably mounted on the spindle 28 so that it can be raised or lowered with respect to the spindle for reasons later to become apparent.

The spindle 28 of the turret is provided with a bearing 30 at its lower open end which fits over the enlarged portion 26 of the arbor and rests upon the thrust bearing 25. The upper portion of the spindle is provided with an interior flange 3| in which is supported a ball bearing unit 32 having its inner race encircling the arbor 2 for supporting the spindle concentric with respect thereto. The gear |3, hereinbefore mentioned, is secured to the lower portion of the spindle 28 bya key 33 so that the gear I3 and spindle -28 rotate as a unit about the arbor 2.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, the base of the machine includes a casting 34 secured tothe pedestal 28 in any suitable manner and formed to provide a housing 35 around the gear l3 and pinion gear l4. The drive shaft l for the pinion gear extends through a bearing box 36 supported in the side wall of the casting 34 and a pair of spaced ball bearings 31 and 38 are arranged within the box 36 for rotatably supporting the drive shaft. The casting 34 is also provided with an upstanding wall 39 above the upper wall-of the housing 35 and the wall 39 has an inturned flange 48 to which an annular cam 4| is secured.

The lifts 6, hereinbefore referred to, are radially disposed around the mid-portion of the spindle to which they are secured in a manner now to be explained. Each lift comprises a mounting bracket 42 secured to the spindle by a pair of bolts 43 extending through vertical slots 44 in the bracket 42 to permit adjustment of the brackets The springs 41 and 48 are clampingly secured to the bracket 42 by bolts 49 so as to extend radially the container from or for discharging the container onto the conveyor associated with the sprocket teeth 63 in a manner well known in the art.

The can table I6 is provided with a back rail 65 for centering a container on the table as the conrelative to the spindle and in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other.

The opposite or outer ends of the springs 41 and 48 extend into slots 58 and 5|, respectively, formed in a casting 52 and are secured to the same by bolts 53 so that the casting 52 is supported in a vertical position, in parallel relation with respect to the spindle 28. The casting 52 has a boss formation 54 extending further radially with respect to the spindle and this boss is provided with a tapped bore 55. A roller or wheel 56 is rotatably mounted on a bolt 5! and the reduced end of the latter is threaded into the tapped bore 55 for securing the wheel 56 to the casting 52 for rotation with respect thereto.

The wheel 56 is disposed to engage the annular cam 4| secured to the flange of the wall 39 and when the wheel is depressed by engagement with the deep portion of the cam 4|, the springs 41 and 48 will be flexed in parallelism. Consequently, and by reason of the spaced relation of the springs 41 and 48, the outer ends thereof and the casting 52 secured thereto will remain in a vertical position during up and down movement thereof. Although flexing of the springs 41 and 48 causes the casting 52 to move laterally while moving up or down, it will be noted that the change in lateral disposition of the casting 52 during its movement i slight and will not materially affect the result sought to be obtained by raising and lowering of the casting.

The casting 52 is provided with a bracket 58 having an inturned flange 59 which'extends upwardly through an opening 68 formed in a disc 6| secured to an annular flange 62 of the spindle 28. The periphery of the disc 6| is provided with sprocket teeth 63 adapted to be associated with a conveyor chain, not shown, provided with lugs projecting through a slotted feed table, not shown, for engaging and feeding containers toward and away from the turret 3 in a conventional manner. I

tainer is received from the feed conveyor so that the open upper end of the container will register with and have sealing engagement with a sealing cap 66 of the filling valve 'lassociated with the lift 6.

The upper portion of the spindle 28 is provided witha threaded outer wall 61 and has a locking ring 68 threadedly arranged thereon. The carriage portion 29 of the turret 3 is provided with a central body 69 having internal threading 10 adapted to fit the thread on the outer wall 61 of the spindle so that the carriage 29 can be adjusted relative thereto for properly spacing the sealing cap of the filling valve I from the can table l6 for the reception of one or another size of standard container therebetween. When the central body 69 of the carriage 29 has been set at-the desired position of adjustment on the threaded wall 81 of the spindle, the locking ring 68 is turned up against the lower edge of the body 69 to secure the latter to the spindle for rotation therewith.

The central portion of the carriage has a laterally extending disc 13 formed therewith and the disc I3 has an upstanding annular wall 14 at-its periphery. This wall 14 has a lateral flange 15 at its upper end and the outer end of this flange i5 is provided with an upstanding" wall i6. An annular tube or conduit 11 surrounds the wall 16 and is secured thereto for supplying the material to be dispensed into the containers to the several filling valves in a manner later to become apparent.

A head casting 18 is secured to the upper edge of the wall 16 of the central body 69 and has an upwardly extending hub portion 19 which fits upon the upper portion 89 of the arbor 2 for rotation relative thereto. A distributor 8| is secured to the upper surface of the head casting for rotation therewith and has a conically shaped interior in which a cone shaped valve member 82 is disposed. The valve member 82 has a hollow center 83 which fits over the hub portion 19 of the head casting and the member 82 is pressed downwardly into the conically shaped interior of the distributor 8| by a compression spring 84 resting upon a washer 85. The washer 85 closes the open upper end of the hollow center 83 of the valve member, the spring 84 being compressed by a hand wheel 86 threadedly mounted upon the threaded upper end 81 of the arbor 2.

The cone shaped valve member has a plurality of passages, one 88 of which is adapted to be threadedly connected to a material supply conduit, not shown, through which material to be canned is supplied preferably from a pump, not. shown. The other passage 89 of the cone shaped valve is adapted for connection to a material return conduit, not shown, associated with the aforementioned pump in a manner well known in the art. The supply passage 88 extends to an annular groove 90 formed in the periphery of the 76 valve member 82 and the groove 98- registers with a groove 9| formed in the conically shaped interior of the distributor". The return passage 89 has an elbowed bottom which communicates with an annular groove 92 formed above the groove 9i in the distributor 8|. The distributor BI is further provided with a vacuum manifold 93 communicating with a passage, not shown, formed in the conical valve member 82 in the same manner as the material supply and return passages 88 and 89 and adapted to be connected to a vacuum line, not shown, customarily employed in the construction and operation of vacuum type filling machines.

A supply elbow 95 (Fig. 1) has its upper end connected to a port 95 in the distributor 8| for communication with the supply duct provided by the annular grooves 95 and 9| and the lower end of the elbow 95 is connected to the upper wall of the annular tube or conduit 11 for suppling the material thereto. The conduit 11 (Fig. 2) has a partition 91 formed adjacent the point of entrance of the material from the supply elbow 95 and, therefore, the material entering the conduit is caused to circulate through the same toward the opposite side of the partition 91.

A return elbow 98 (Fig. 1) having its lower end connected to the upper wall of the conduit 11 receives the material which circulates therethrough and conducts the same into the annular groove 92 in the distributor M for discharge by way of the return passage 89. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the material entering the conduit 11 is kept in motion so as to prevent heavier particles or the material from settling or any appreciable portion thereof from adhering to the inner walls of the supply tube or' conduit. Moreover, it should be understood that material is continually supplied to the conduit 11 so that the latter constitutes a source of supply of material for each of the filling valves and that the material in conduit 11 is maintained at sufficient pressure so as to flow from the conduit by way of openings therein, now to be explained.

The lower wall I (Figs. 1, 3, 4, and of the conduit 11 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced discharge openings i0l, each of which communicates with a respective one of the filling valve units 1. Each filling valve unit 1 is provided with a housing I02 having a flange I03 at its upper end secured by machine screws I04 to the lower wall I00 of the conduit 11. The housing I 02 has a throat I05 which communicates with the opening MI in the lower wall of the conduit 11 and with the annular interior I00 of the housing. A rotor I01 is arranged within the annular interior of the housing and is provided with a diametrically disposed cylinder I08 providing a passage, the open ends of which are adapted to successively register with the throat I05. The lower end of the housing Ill-2 is provided with an outlet passage I09 diametrically opposite the throat I05 so that as one open end of the cylinder I08 registers with the throat, the opposite open end of the cylinder registers with the outlet passage I09.

A piston I I0 is disposed in the cylinder I08 for the purpose of closing ofi direct passage of the supply material from the upper end of the cylinder toward the lower end thereof. This piston H0 adapted to move axially of the cylinder for the purpose of discharging a predetermined quantity of material therefrom once during each cycle of operation of the valve.

It will be noted that the outlet passage I09 is slightly smaller in diameter than the cylinder I08, and consequently, downward movement or the piston III! is stopped at the periphery of the rotor I01 and the piston is, therefore, retained within the cylinder. Simultaneous with the discharge of material from the lower portion of the cylinder by downward movement 01' the piston, the portion of the cylinder above the piston H0 is evacuated so as to receive another charge of material from the material supply conduit 11. The rotor I01 is then turned, in a manner subsequently to be described, and thereafter the piston is again moved downwardly repeating the discharge and filling oi! the cylinder as explained above.

The piston H0 is of a size calculated to occupy only a portion of the interior oi. the cylinder I08 so as to leave a measuring chamber III within the cylinder sufiicient to receive the exact quantity of material desired to be deposited into the container on the can table 5. Since the filling machine is adapted for filling various sizes of containers, the piston IIO comprises a number 01 interlocking parts, for example, ll0a, I Mb, 00, secured together by a countersunk head machine screw III whereby one part, for instance, the partjliflb, may be removed or another such part inserted between parts I I01; and N00 for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the size of the measuring chamber III. In this manner, the size of the measuring chamber can be varied so as to assure that each container will receive an amount of produce commensurate with its size.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the open upper end of the container is pressed into sealing engage-ment with the sealing cap .06 of the filling valve 1. This sealing cap (Figs. 3, 4, and 5) comprises a casting I I3 secured to the bottom of the housing I02 and provided with a depending skirting III having an inturned lip H5 at its lower end. The casting H3 is provided with a passage I IS in which a resilient sealing member H1 is disposed. This sealing member, prefer ably made of rubber, has an annular can engaging portion H8 provided with a central opening H9 which is in registration with the outlet passage I09 in the housing. The sealing member H1 is further provided with an annular skirting I20 which is retained within the passage IIB by the inturned lip II5.

The opening H9 and outlet passage I09 are lined with a sleeve I25 having its lower end I28 beveled at its outer periphery so as to extend below the under surface of the can engaging portion H8 to provide a drip edge for preventing the material from adhering to the portion I I8 of the sealing member subsequent to the depositing of the material into the container.

It will be noted that the housing I02 (Fig. 3) is split at one side and that it is provided with a pair of spaced lugs I21 and I20. The lower lug I28 is provided with a threaded bore I29 and the upper lug I21 is provided with a hole I30 for the reception of a bolt I3I. A compression spring I32 is arranged on the bolt I3I between the head I33 thereof and the upper lug I21 and the threaded portion I34 of the bolt is threadedly connected to the threaded bore I29 so as to yieldingly urge the spaced lugs I21, I28 toward each other. The housing I02 is thereby clamped around the rotor I01 to prevent leakage- 01' material between the housing and rotor.

The side wall I35 of the rotor (Fig. .5), i. e., the wall thereof which faces the center of the axially from one end of a shaft I38. The shaft I38 has a splined portion I39 drivingly connected to a splined sleeve I40 carried by and secured within the bore of the hub I4I of a bevel ear I42.

The opposite end of the shaft I38 is reduced in size and has a compression spring I43 thereon having its inner end resting against a washer I44. The periphery of the washer I44 is secured in place by an expansion ring I45 seated in an annular recess. I46 provided in the bevel gear I42 and that portion of the washer which fits over the shaft I38 is adapted to be engaged by a snap ring I41 seated in an annular groove I48 provided near the end of the shaft I38.

The bevel gear I42 (Fig. 4) is journalled in a bearing I 49 provided within a hub casting I50 extending through the annular wall 14 hereinbeforc referred to in connection with the description of the carriage portion 29 of the turret. The hub casting I50 is suitably secured to the wall 14 so that the shaft I38 and rotor I01 will be in axial alignment with respect to each other.

The bevel gear I42 is a component part of the epicyclic train II hereinbefore referred to and now to be more fully explained. The bevel gear I42 (Fig. l) meshes with a bevel gear II supported upon a bearing plate I52 disposed on the upper surface of the central body 69 of the carriage 29. The bevel gear I5I is mounted upon a bushing I53 for rotation about the arbor 2 and the hub portion I54 of the gear I5I is keyed to a spur gear I55. The spur gear I55 meshes with a pinion gear I56 secured to a stud shaft I51 having its lower end journalled in a boss formation I58 of a bracket I59 in turn secured to the lateral flange 15 of the central body 69. The stud shaft also has a spur gear I60 secured thereto which meshes with a pinion gear I62 fixed to the arbor 2 and the upper end of the shaft I51 is journalled for rotation in a boss formation I6I formed on the underside of the head casting 18.

The machine is driven by the shaft I 5 through bevel gears I4 and I3 causing rotation of the turret 3, inclusive of valves I and can tables I6 about the fixed arbor 2 in the direction of arrows a (Fig. 1). Consequently, since the gear I62 is fixed to the arbor 2, and the gear I60, shaft I51, and pinion I56 revolve about the same, rotation of gear I55 and bevel gear I5I about the arbor 2 in the same direction as turret 3 but at a reduced speed is effected. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the bevel gears I5I and I42 are so proportioned that the rotor I01 of each valve 1 is rotated one half of a revolution in the direction of arrow b (Fig. 3) during one complete revolution of turret 3.

The bevel gear I42 (Fig. 4) has a sealing cap I63 inserted in its inner open end and bearing against the expansion ring I45. The opposite end of the cap I63 is adjacent the side wall of the central body 69 so as to maintain a lubricant such as grease within the bevel gear I42. The bevel gear I42 is maintained in proper position against the bearing I49 provided in the hub casting I50 by the bevel gear I5I and the washer I44 within the bevel gear I42 provides a stationary base from which the shaft I38 is urged toward the left (Fig. 4) by the compression spring I43. The clutch tooth I31 is thereby pressed toward the side wall I35 of the rotor I01 for driving engagement in the clutch seat I36 on the side wall I35 of the I09 when they pass the same.

. 8 rotor. The rotor I01 is restrained against sliding movement outwardly of the housing I02 (toward the left in Fig. 4) by a retaining finger I64 secured by a screw I05 to the outside wall of the housing I02.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that as the turret and lifts are rotated about the arbor the rotor turns within the housing I02 for inverting the measuring chamber I II from registration with the throat I05 into registration with the outlet passage I09 so that the chargeof material within the chamber will always be discharged from that end of the chamber through which the material was received. J

The rotor I01 (Fig.3) is provided with a pair of grooves I10 and "I which are formed diametrically opposite each other in the periphery of the rotor. Another pair of grooves I12 and I13 are also :formed diametrically opposite each other in the periphery of the rotor and these grooves I10, I", I12, and I13 are disposed in spaced relation and in annular alignment on the periphery of the rotor so as to register with the outlet passage However, it will be noted from Figs.. 4 and 5 that the throat I05 is partially restricted by a beveled side wall I05 (Figs. 4 and 5) the lower end of which lies in the annular path through which the grooves I10 to I13 are moved. Therefore, the material which passes through the throat I05 is prevented from entering or clogging'the grooves I10 to I13.

The grooves I10 and'I1I are each connected to the atmosphere by way of a lateral bore I14 and I15, respectively, for the purpose of venting a container when it is in sea-ling engagement with the filling valve subsequent to the actual filling operation as will later be explained.

The grooves I12 and I13 (Figs. 3, 4, and 5) communicate with a lateral groove I16 and I11, respectively, in turn communicating with an annularly extending feeder groove I18 and I19, respectively, disposed adjacent the outer margin of the rotor. These feeder grooves I18 and I19 are adapted to register with a port I (Fig.8) in the housing I02, the outer open end of the port I80 being connected to one end of a flexible tube or hose I8I having its opposite end connected to the vacuum manifold 93 (Fig. l) in the distributor 8|.

The port I80 is located so as to register with either the feeder groove I18 or the feeder groove I19 when the groove I12 or I13 associated therewith is about to register with the outlet passage I09. The feeder grooves I18 and I19 are each of sufficient length as to maintain connection with the port I80 leading to the vacuum line, while its associated groove I12 or I13 moves past the outlet passage I09. It will be noted in the diagram of Fig. 9 that the groove I12 or I 13, as the case mayobe, begins to register with the outlet Dassage I09 just as a container is about to be lifted into engagement with the sealing member I I1 in the sealing cap 66 and, consequently, the container is vacuumized immediately upon its engagement with the sealing member II1. This effects a sudden seizure of the container by suction immediately upon engagement of the container with the sealing member and assures that the container is in proper sealed relation with the filling valve prior to the filling operation.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that as the rotor turns within the housing I02 and the measuring chamber III is brought into registration with the outlet passage I09, the material within.

the chamber is promptly discharged through the passage I09 and into the container. In other words, the vacuum prevailing within the container plus the pressure with which, the material is discharged from the annular tube or conduit 11 causes the piston IIO to be moved downwardly to thereby clear the cylinder I08 of the charge it contained and at the same time to draw a new charge of material from the conduit 11 down into the cylinder I08 as the piston H is lowered within the same.

Since the epicyclic train II is constantly in motion due to rotation of the turret 3, the rotor I01 continues to turn, 1. e., away from can filling position, and eventually the venting groove I or I1I, as the case may be, registers with the outlet passage I09 to vent the interior of the now filled container. Therefore, when the wheel 56 is depressed by the cam H and the springs 41 and 48 are flexed to lower the can table, the container carried thereby is released from the effect of vacuum and is free to descend into a position for discharge from the filling machine by the discharge conveyor associated therewith.

In the event the can table fails to receive a container from the feed conveyor, it is apparent that the charge of material in the measuring chamber would be spilled out of the filling valve onto an empty can table and be lost. In order to prevent the loss of material due to the absence of a container on the can table, each lift and filling valve is provided with a no can-no fill device generally indicated at I90 (Fig. 4) in the drawings. This no can-no fill device comprises a mast I 9I having its lower end secured by machine screws I92 to the back face of the rail 65 provided on the can table. The mast I9I passes through a guide I93 provided in a bracket I94 suspended from the hub casting I50 in which the bevel gear I42 is journalled. The upper end of the mast I9I is provided with a cam surface I95 adapted to be moved into the path of cam lugs I96 provided on a disc I91 (Figs. 4, 6, and 7) which is secured by a pin I98 to the extended end of the shaft I38 between the splined portion thereof and the clutch tooth I31 at its outer end.

The mast I9! is ordinarily restrained from movement into the path of the cam lugs I96 when a container on the can table engages the sealing member II1 of the filling valve but when no container is presented tothe can table I6, upward movement thereof is not obstructed and the springs 41 and 48 are free to straighten out into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Therefore, without a container the can table is permitted to rise high enough to move the cam surface I95 of the mast I9I into the path of the cam lugs I96 and, consequently, when one of the lugs I96 engages the cam surface I95, the disc I91 is shifted inwardly, toward the center of the turret, to the dotted line position thereof shown in Fig. 4. The splined shaft I38 is, accordingly, shifted a corresponding distance against the action of the compression spring I43 to thereby withdraw the clutch tooth I31 from the clutch seat I36 in the rotor and the rotor is, therefore, uncoupled from driving connection with the epicyclic train II.

Although the disc I91 and splined shaft continue to rotate after disengagement of the clutch tooth I31 from the clutch seat I36, the cam lug I96 which had engaged the cam surface I95 of the mast I9I passes the cam surface I95 so that the splined shaft is released for movement by compression spring I43 toward the rotor I01.

Since the rotor ceases moving while the splined shaft continues to rotate, the clutch tooth will now be out of registration with the clutch seat and, therefore, when the can table is subsequently lowered and the mast I withdrawn the clutch tooth will straddle and abut the surface I99 around the clutch seat I36 on the side wall I35 or the rotor. Consequently, the clutch tooth will continue to rotate relative to the uncoupled rotor until the clutch tooth again registers with the clutch seat thereof and is urged into the same by action of the spring I43 in the usual manner.

Operation The filling machine of the present invention is adapted to be driven continuously by way of the drive shaft I5 and gears I4 and I3 whereby the turret 3 is rotated about the arbor 2.

In connection with the diagram, Fig. 9, it will be noted that during a little over one-quarter of a revolution of the turret, the can tables are in their lowermost position and the filling valves associated therewith are closed so that empty containers can be received by and filled containers discharged from the machine. It is during this phase of the operation of the machine that the springs 41 and 48 of the lifts 6 are flexed by engagement of the wheel 56 with the deep portion of the cam M as is illustrated in Fig. 4, an empty container being delivered to a particular can table just prior to the arrival. of the wheel 56 at the declevity of the cam (see Fig. 3).

It should be understood that the turret may carry any number of filling valve units and lifts as desired, however, a machine provided with twelve sets of filling valves and lifts has been found satisfactory for accurately filling approximately 500 cans of 2 oz., 4% 02., or 6 oz. capacity per minute. As hereinbefore pointed out, the sprocket teeth 63 of the machine are adapted to mesh with a conventional lug bearing conveyor chain so that a continuous stream of containers supplied to the filling machine will be received in timed relation with the running speedthereof for deposit one after another onto successive can tables I6.

Almost simultaneous with the event of the wheel 56 riding off of the deep portion of the cam 4|, the vacuumized groove I12 begins to register with the discharge opening of the valve 1, i. e., the sleeve I25 in the passage I09. Therefore, when the wheel rolls past the declivity of the cam 4| the springs 41 and 28 are released and tend to straighten out by their own resiliency and the can table I6 with a container thereon rises with snap-like action to present the open upper rim of the container into sealing engagement with the central portion I I6 of the sealing memher I I1. Consequently, the container is promptly vacuumized which effects a perfect seal between the container and sealing member. The can table I6 in the meantime is still urged against the bottom of the container by reason of the fact that the container is of a height sufficient to prevent the springs 41 and 48 from completely straightening out and the mast I9I of the no-can no-fill device I90 will, therefore, be restrained from movement into the path of the cam lugs I96 on the disc I91. Consequently, the container is maintained in centered position on the can table as the rotor I01 is advanced within the valve housing I02.

It should here be noted that since the rotor I01 turns only one-half a revolution during each 11 filling operation of the machine, the sleeve I08 is in a horizontal position (I in Fig. 9) when a container is elevated into filling relation withthe filling valve. Moreover, during operation of the machine, the measuring chamber III will have been supplied with a charge of material and, consequently, this charge will be delivered toward the vacuumized container, clockwise as seen in Fig. 9 and through positions II, III, and IV thereof. When the rotor has been turned into vertical position, as illustrated at V in Fig. 9, the piston I I is caused to drop into its lowermost position by the combined eifect of the vacuum prevailing within the container and the pressure prevailing upon the material within the supply conduit 11. It is, therefore, apparent that the material within the chamber II I is discharged from the same as the piston moves downwardly into engagement with the inner periphery I06 of the housing I02. Simultaneously with the downward movement of the piston H0 a new charge of material is drawn downwardly into the opposite end of the cylinder I08 which becomes a measuring chamber I I l preparatory to the filling of the next successive container.

The rotor I01 continues to turn, clockwise (VI in Fig. 9) and just before the wheel 56 of the can table arrives at the acclivity of the cam 4|, the filled container is vented (VII in Fig. 9) by communication thereof with the venting groove I10. From the foregoing, it will be understood that the container is no longer air locked relative to the sealing member I I1 and that the container is supported in raised position solely by the can table I6. Consequently, when the wheel 56 is depressed by the deep portion of the cam 4|, the springs 41 and 48 of the lift are again flexed and the container lowered (VII in Fig. 9) for subsequent discharge from the machine.

Although vacuumization of the containers in the manner explained above is desirable for efficient and accurate filling of containers at a high speed, it will be apparent that this feature may be dispensed with when open or vented containers are to be filled. In such case, the material is forced into the measuring chamber of the valve under suificient pressure from the supply conduit as to cause a discharge of a measured quantity of material from the opposite side of the valve into a container which is open or vented to atmosphere.

While the invention herein has been described in connection with the specific device disclosed, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the same is capable of variations, modifications, and alterations without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, desire to avail myself of all variations, modifications, and alterations coming within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A filling valve for a container filling machine comprising a filling head having an inlet and an outlet opening, a rotary valve in said filling head provided with a passage adapted to register with said inlet and outlet openings, a container engaging seal around said outlet opening for sealingly engaging a container presented thereto, a material supply line communicating with said inlet opening for transmitting material under pressure into said passage, a piston slidably supported in said passage for obstructing the flow of material through the same and cooperating with said passage for providing a chamber therein for receiving aquantity of material commensurate with the capacity of the'container to be filled, a vacuum line, said rotary valve having a vacuum port for connecting said vacuum line with said outlet opening for vacuumizing a container presented thereto. and means for rotating said rotary valve for inverting said chamber for registering the end of said passage carrying the piston with said inlet opening whereby the combined efiect of the vacuumized container and the material entering said inlet opening causes movement of said piston axially of said passage for discharging the material from said chamber through said outlet opening.

2. A lift for a filling machine comprising leaf springs having their corresponding ends secured in vertical alignment so that said springs extend laterally in spaced parallel relation one above the other, a can table secured to the opposite ends of said leaf springs for maintaining said springs in parallelism during vertical flexing thereof whereby said can table will remain substantially horizontal during such vertical flexing of said springs, and means for flexing said leaf springs to shift said can table into can receiving or discharging position and for subsequently releasing said leaf springs for return toward their normal position in snap-like action.

3. A filling machine comprising a valve, a leaf sprin having one end so secured relative to said 'valve that the free end of said leaf spring extends laterally beneath and is biased toward said valve for pressing a container into sealing engagement with said valve, means for supporting a container on the free end of said spring, and means for flexing said leaf spring for urging the free end thereof away from said valve for permitting removal of a container from and insertion of a container into said machine and for subsequently releasing said leaf spring for presenting the newly inserted container to said valve in snaplike motion.

4. In a filling machine including a valve for receiving a containerin sealing engagement therewith, a. lift comprising a leaf spring so secured relative to said valve that the free end of said leaf spring will extend toward said valve, a can support mounted on the free end of said leaf spring for presenting a container into sealing engagement with said valve, and means for depressing the free end of said leaf spring for releasing said container from sealing engagement with said valve.

5. In a filling machine having a filling valve, a can lift comprising spaced fiat spring arms arranged one above the other and having their cor- 1 responding ends secured in spaced vertical relation with respect to said filling valve whereby the free ends of said arms will flex in parallelism with respect to each other toward and away from said valve, a bar provided with a can table and secured to the free ends of said arms for maintaining them in parallelism during flexing thereof whereby said bar will remain vertical during flexing of said arms, means for flexing said arms for shifting said can table into can discharging and receiving position and for subsequently releasing said arms for return movement by their own resiliency toward their normal position for moving a can on said can table into filling relation with said filling valve.

6. In a filling machine including a carriage carrying a valve adapted to have sealing engage- 13 ment with a container presented thereto, a lift comprising leaf springs secured to said carriage and extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation for fiexing movement toward and away from said valve, a can table secured to the free ends of said leaf springs, a cam track, means on said can table for engaging said cam track, and means for moving said carriage and cam track relatively with respect to each other for causing progression of said cam engaging means relatively with respect to said cam track for parallel flexing said leaf springs for moving said can table into container discharging and receiving position and for subsequently releasing said cam engaging means with respect to said cam track to thereby permit said leaf springs to return toward their normal extended position in snap-like action for presenting a container to said valve.

7. In a can filling machine having a revolvable turret carrying a filler valve adapted to have sealing engagement with a container presented thereto, means for presenting a container into sealing engagement with said valve comprising leaf springs secured to said turret so as to extend radially therefrom in spaced parallel relation for flexing movement toward and away from said valve, a can table disposed to present a container to said filling valve and secured to the free ends of said leaf springs for maintaining them in parallelism during flexing thereof, and a cam adjacent said turret for engaging a portion of said can table for flexing said leaf springs into can receiving and discharging position and for subsequently releasing said can table to permit return of the leaf springs toward their normal position whereby a container on said can table will be presented to said valve in snap-like sealing action.

8. A filling machine comprising a valve having an inlet and an outlet opening. a supply of material communicating with the inlet opening, means for presenting a container into sealed relation with respect to said outlet opening, a rotor in said housing having a passage simultaneously communicable with said inlet and outlet openings, a piston arranged in said passage for obstructing flow of material through the same and leaving a predetermined space in said passage for the admission of material from said inlet opening, a vacuum line communicating with said valve, said rotor having a port for communicating said vacuum line with a container presented to said outlet opening for vacuumizing the container presented thereto, and means operating in timed relation to the container presenting means for turning said rotor for inverting said passage whereby the material lodged in the predetermined space thereof is advanced into the vacuumized container incident to the admission of another like quantity of material into the opposite end of said passage.

9. In a filling machine including a turret carrying valves adapted to having sealing engagement with a container presented thereto, means for lifting a container into filling relation with each of said valves comprising leaf springs secured to said turret so as to extend radially therefrom in spaced relation for flexing movement toward and away from said valve, a can table secured to the ends of said leaf springs, a cam track, means on said can table for engaging said cam track, means for rotating said turret for causing progression of said cam engaging means along said track for flexing said leaf springs to move said can table into container receiving and discharging position and for subsequently releasing said cam engaging means to thereby permit said leaf springs to return toward their normal extended position in snap-like action for presenting a. container to said filling valve.

10. A filling machine comprising a base, a turret mounted for rotation on said base, a filling head carried by said turret and having diametrically opposite inlet and outlet openings, means for presenting a can into sealed relation with the outlet opening of said filling head, a vacuum line, a rotor in said filling head having a vacuum passage for communicating said vacuum line with said outlet opening for vacuumizing the can presented thereto and for holding said can in sealed relation to said filling head, said rotor having a passage adapted to communicate said inlet and outlet openings, means for supplying material to said inlet opening, a piston reciprocable withinsaid passage for obstructin the flow of material therethrough and for supporting a predetermined quantity of material admitted into said passage, and means for turning said rotor for inverting said passage whereby said predetermined quantity of material is discharged into the vacuumized can incident to admission of material into the opposite end of said passage.

11. A filling machine comprising a turret, a filling head associated with said turret and having an inlet and an outlet opening, means on said turret for receiving a. container for presentin said container into sealed relation with said outlet opening, a rotor in said filling head provided with a passage adapted to register with said inlet and outlet openings, a material supply conduit communicating with said inlet opening for transmitting material into said passage, a reciprocable piston in said passage for obstructing the flow of material through the same whereby a predetermined quantity of material is retained in said passage, means for rotating said turret, means for releasably connecting said turret and rotor for turnin the latter during rotation of said turret to thereby invert said passage so that the end thereof carrying the piston registers with said inlet opening and incoming material effects movement of said piston axially of said passage for discharging the material from the passage through said outlet opening, and means operable by said container receiving means when no container is received thereby for releasing said connecting means for staying inversion of said chamber.

12. A fillin machine comprising a turret, a filling valve on said turret, a container lift supported by said turret normally tending to move toward said valve for pressing a container supported by said lift into filling relation with the valve, means engageable by said lift during rotation of said turret for urging said lift away from said valve for the reception and discharge of a container, means for rotating said turret, a relesable coupling between said valve and said turret for operating said valve in timed relation with said turret, and means operable by said lift when no container is received thereby for engagin said releasable coupling for releasing said valve from coupled relation with said turret.

13. In a container filling machine the combination comprising a filling head having an inlet and an outlet opening, a rotary valve in said filling head provided with passages adapted to communicate said outlet opening successively with a vacuum line, said inlet opening, and an air vent in that order upon each one half revolution of said valve, a container engaging seal around said outlet opening for sealingly engaging a container presented thereto, a material supply line communicating with said inlet opening for transmitting material. under .pressure thereto, a piston slidably mounted in the passage adapted to communicate the outlet with the inlet opening in said filling head, for obstructing the flow of material through the same and cooperating with said passage for providing a chamber therein for receiving a quantity of material commensurate with the capacity of a container to be filled, means for 10 Number presenting containers successively in sealed relation to said outlet opening, and means operating in timed relation to said container presenting means for rotating said rotary valve one half UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 540,257 Jones June 4, 1885 1,872,103 Bergmann Aug. 16, 1932 2,070,302 Hoar Feb. 9, 1937 2.080.482

Howard May 18, 1937 

